Marriage, civil union license fee could increase

Cook County Board Commissioner wants fee to rise from $40 to $60

Getting a civil union or marriage license in Cook County could get a little more expensive. Cook County Board Commissioner Joan Patricia Murphy has proposed raising the current fee from $40 to $60.

"Any increase of any fees or taxes by the county is not welcomed by anyone," Murphy said. "However, in these days and times, we need to do it if we want to keep our services going."

Murphy says the plan would match with current inflation rates and would be the first increase to the fee in almost 20 years. It's an idea the County Clerk's office says it has been thinking about for a year as a remedy for the county's budget deficit.

A spokeswoman for Cook County Clerk David Orr says the change would generate around $600,000 in revenue. The proposal is expected to move to the county's Finance Committee this week.